Since the establishment of NYBC's Cord Blood Program in 1992, more than 450 cord blood and tissue banks have facilitated more than 100,000 cord blood transplants. As per WHO, stem cells are annually saving the lives of over 50,000 patients across the globe, significantly reducing their disease burden and improving the quality of life.

Just as seeds are a foundation to a tree, stem cells act as the raw material of the human body that constantly grow, differentiate and renew to create the blood and immune system, tissues and organs. Umbilical cord blood, nourishing the child in the mother's womb is collected within the first five minutes of childbirth.

Preserving these stem cells for life can protect you and your loved ones from several known and unknown life-taking diseases that might arise in the future.

Umbilical Cord Blood and Tissue contain Hematopoietic (blood forming) and Mesenchymal (tissue regenerating) Stem Cells. These stem cells are adaptable and applicable to any genetically matched individuals, within or outside the family needing a life-saving transplant.

Today's latest research and development efforts are allowing scientists and bioprocess engineers to expand, differentiate and even genetically modify these cells to develop customised treatments for common and rare diseases.

As clinical development of cell and gene therapies is moving at warp speed, stem cells are being used to cure an increasing number of diseases, some of which were previously considered untreatable. Below are some of the conditions for which stem cell therapy is already making a huge difference.

Leukaemia and Blood Cancers
The abnormal growth of cells in the body leads to infection, tumor development and ultimately loss of over 10 million lives annually. Read about how the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center is using Cord Blood to save lives.
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Neurological Disorders
One of the largest set of chronic illnesses affecting the young and old responsible for more than 9 million worldwide deaths. Researchers at Duke University are giving children diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy a fighting chance with cord blood treatment. Read More
 
Infectious Diseases
Each day new bacterial, fungal and viral causing agents are playing havoc with the health of millions across the globe. Vaccination can only provide limited immunity but stem cells have the potential for a cure. See how the IMPAACT Foundation is addressing a cure for HIV through cord blood transplantation.
Read More
 
Metabolic Conditions
Large scale screening efforts of IEMs are enabling paediatric doctors to diagnose and treat metabolic conditions such as Cystic Fibrosis, G6PD, etc at an early stage. Doctors at Apollo Hospitals, Chennai in India treated the world's first Mucopolysaccharidosis type VI (MPS-6) metabolic disease using stem cells. Read More
 
Hemoglobinopathies
Beta thalassemia previously touted by the medical fraternity to be 'prevented only', today has a definitive cure through cell based gene therapy using patient's own (autologous) blood stem cells. See how Bluebird Bio is advancing this treatment to clinic. Read More
 

Treatment Milestones of Cord Blood

1966

Dr. Milton and Dr. Ende pioneered the first published case of cord blood as cancer therapy

1988

World's first cord blood transplant was received by Matthew Farrow, a 5 year old boy with Fanconi anemia

February 1995

World's first cord blood transplant for an adult leukemia patient at Duke Medical Center

August 1996

Dr. Cairo and Dr. Wagner led the first demonstration that long term patient survival is comparable with cord blood transplants and bone marrow transplants

2005

Abby Pell received her own stem cells as experimental therapy for brain injury due to oxygen deprivation at birth

2007

Jake Liao was the first child to receive a stem cell transplant from a sibling as therapy for a rare and fatal skin disorder - epidermolysis bullosa

2009

20,000 cord blood transplants had been performed around the world

2010

184 childrens with acquired neurological disorders were treated with their own cord blood

2012

Therapy launched for treatment of autism using cord blood

2013

Dr. Nelson of the Mayo Clinic's Center for Regenerative Medicine cord blood stem cell surgery to correct a serious heart defect.

2016

Indian's first 5 year old, MPS VI patient treated with siblings cord blood.

A Word From The Experts

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Dr. Nikhil Datar
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Dr. Purvi Nanavati
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Dr Divyesh Sadadiwala
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Dr. Shyamla
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Dr. Vijay Ramanan
 
 
 

Watch Now - The Story Of Cord Blood

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References:

  • First cord blood therapy in 1966 https://parentsguidecordblood.org/en/news/timing-cord-clamping-critical-issue-major-medical-centers
  • Currently, cord blood has been used in the treatment of nearly 80 diseases. Moise K Jr. Umbilical cord stem cells. Obstet Gynecol. 2005;106(6):1393-1407.
  • National Marrow Donor Program®. Number of Unrelated Transplants, Pediatric Recipients, by Cell Source. [directory title] Transplants by Cell Source - Pediatric Recipients (younger than 18 years) [chart title] https://bethematchclinical.org/Resources-and-Education/HCT-Presentation-Slides/#/ Accessed August 20, 2014.
  • In 2000, only 1% of all transplants involved the use of cord blood stem cells. Cord Blood transplants are involved in 16% of all stem cell transplants.
  • National Marrow Donor Program®. Number of Unrelated Donor Transplants, by Cell Source. [directory title] Tranplants by Cell Source. [chart title] https://bethematchclinical.org/Resources-and-Education/HCT-Presentation-Slides/#/ Accessed August 20, 2014.
  • More than 35,000 umbilical cord blood transplants have been performed worldwide.
  • National Cord Blood Program. cord blood can save lives. http://www.nationalcordbloodprogram.org/. © 2015 National Cord Blood Program.
  • Kraus M, Foster K, Bridges AR, Walters MC. Cord blood units collected with liquid CPD appear to contain significantly more nucleated and CD34+ cells than units collected with dry heparin. Study presented at 51st American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting and Exposition; December 5-8, 2009; New Orleans, LA. Abstract 4227
  • Therapies in Clinical Trials Page. Parent's Guide to Cord Blood Foundation website. https://parentsguidecordblood.org/en/diseases#trial. Accessed August 2, 2020
  • Clinical trial registry page. ClinicalTrials.gov website. http://clinicaltrials.gov. Accessed August 2, 2020.